linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] mtd: spi-nor: Add 4B

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Date:   Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:24:14 +0000
From:   "Daniel Walker (danielwa)" <danielwa@...co.com>
To:     "Tudor.Ambarus@...rochip.com" <Tudor.Ambarus@...rochip.com>
CC:     "xe-linux-external(mailer list)" <xe-linux-external@...co.com>,
        "miquel.raynal@...tlin.com" <miquel.raynal@...tlin.com>,
        "richard@....at" <richard@....at>,
        "vigneshr@...com" <vigneshr@...com>,
        "linux-mtd@...ts.infradead.org" <linux-mtd@...ts.infradead.org>,
        "linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] mtd: spi-nor: Add 4B_OPCODES flag to n25q256a

On Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 04:52:01AM +0000, Tudor.Ambarus@...rochip.com wrote:
> On Monday, April 20, 2020 7:25:51 PM EEST Daniel Walker (danielwa) wrote:
> > EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the
> > content is safe
> > On Mon, Apr 20, 2020 at 03:45:59PM +0000, Tudor.Ambarus@...rochip.com wrote:
> > > Hi, Daniel,
> > > 
> > > On Friday, April 17, 2020 8:46:19 PM EEST Daniel Walker wrote:
> > > > EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you know
> > > > the
> > > > content is safe
> > > > 
> > > > The n25q256a supports 4-byte opcodes so lets add the flag.
> > > 
> > > This is not true for all the n25q256a flashes. SPINOR_OP_PP_4B,
> > > SPINOR_OP_BE_4K_4B and SPINOR_OP_SE_4B are valid just for the part numbers
> > > N25Q256A83ESF40x, N25Q256A83E1240x, and N25Q256A83ESFA0F.
> > > 
> > > You need to differentiate between the aforementioned flashes and the rest
> > > in the n25q256a, in order to add the 4-byte opcodes flag.
> > 
> > How do you suggest I do that ? Can I add a new entry into this table with
> > more specific information about the chips ?
> > 
> 
> We need to find a differentiator at runtime. If we are lucky, there might be 
> some SFDP changes between the 4-byte opcodes capable flashes and the rest. 
> Please dump all the sfdp tables, we can start from there. There's a thread 
> that might interest you, see http://u-boot.10912.n7.nabble.com/Regressions-in-MTD-SPI-FLASH-td382956.html#a383126.
 
The thread seems to indicate that it's not easy to identify the chips which
support this.

Inside our device tree we identify that our flash is compatible with,
compatible = "jedec,spi-nor";

Would it make sense to add further identification of the chips into the device
tree, or allow some level of control over the SPI_NOR_4B_OPCODES flag into the
device tree. Since it would seems identification of the chips is not trivial.

> A more elegant way to solve it, is by parsing the 4bait sfdp table, but I 
> haven't checked if this flash supports it or not. Anyway, not something that 
> we can control, the manufacturer should add it.

We can investigate, our hardware team is claiming the only way to know if
physically reading what's on the chip.

Daniel